A filter module for filtering raw liquid that includes an outer housing having a longitudinal axis and raw liquid inlet and outlet ends. A non-porous member is attached to each end of the outer housing to form a seal between a hollow tube and the outer housing. A plurality of fins are disposed among hollow fiber filter elements to separate the elements into a plurality of bundles. Each of the fins has a plurality of spacers abutting the hollow tube to form liquid pathways between each of the respective fins in the hollow tube. The spacing of the fibers in the bundles of the filter module may be increased by twisting a bundle in a first direction about a longitudinal axis to stretch the fibers, sliding a plurality of sleeved segments over the twisted bundle to fix the position of portions of the fibers at predetermined points along the length of the bundle, and untwisting the bundle to generate a plurality of outward bows of the fibers from the longitudinal axis of the bundle, thus creating spaces between the fibers in the bundles. The module may also include a first plurality of nettings each enclosing a separate one of the plurality of bundles and a second plurality of nettings each positioned over one of the first plurality of nettings and having a coarser texture than the first plurality of nettings.

A compact blood oxygenator has a minimal priming volume and is particularly advantageous for pediatric cardiac surgery. A generally rectangular housing has longitudinally spaced and interspersed heat exchanger conduit groups and oxygenator fiber bundles. The conduits and oxygenator fibers extend transversely across the interior of the housing in criss-cross fashion. Cured potting compound and flanges on the interior surfaces of the housing define hermetically sealed heat transfer fluid, blood and gas mixture flow paths. The inlet and outlet ends of the heat exchanger conduits communicate with first and second chambers formed on opposite sides of the housing. The inlet and outlet ends of the oxygenator fibers communicate with third and fourth chambers on the other opposite sides of the housing. The potting compound is formed into a rectangular block with an interior wall that defines a longitudinally extending one-way cylindrical blood flow path that minimizes eddies and stagnant areas that can cause platelet damage or clotting. The oxygenator fiber bundles are made of a fan folded mat of a plurality of generally parallel oxygenator fibers. An axial flow pump is mounted adjacent a blood inlet manifold in the upper end of the housing. The blood oxygenator may be connected to the patient as part of a perfusion circuit which has an accumulator reservoir to minimize tissue damage to the patient.

A blood handling system has a first blood handling apparatus mounted on a second blood handling apparatus with a mounting apparatus. The mounting apparatus has two primary components: a retention sleeve attached to a stem that protrudes from the lower portion of the first blood handling apparatus; and a slotted plate that is attached to a stem on the second blood handling apparatus. The retention sleeve has a track for receiving the slotted plate and a flexible tab, with a protruding tooth, that securely engages the slotted plate in a locked position. If it becomes necessary to disconnect the first blood handling apparatus from the second blood handling apparatus during surgery, the tab may be easily moved into an unlocked position, allowing the disk to slide freely out of the track so that the units can be easily separated from each other.

Blood mixing in fiber-wound oxygenators is improved by inserting at least one layer of a planar apertured mat between selected layers of wound gas-exchange fibers.

An exchanger and method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the exchanger crimps a hollow fiber bundle along a length of a cylindrical case in at least two radial positions. At least one crimp is between an inlet port and an outlet port of a blood conduit. Preferably, the cylindrical case has two portions with different radii so that when the two portions are mated to enclose the hollow fiber bundle, crimping is achieved. In this way, shunting of blood is avoided by being forced to pass a crimped position between the inlet and outlet ports to more evenly distribute the blood among the fibers of the bundle. In another embodiment, a method for making an exchanger includes filling a chamber, integral to the exchanger, with uncured potting material. The exchanger is spun to distribute the uncured potting material about open ends of an encasement. After curing, a portion of the potting material and the hollow fiber bundle are trimmed away. Preferably, the cured potting material includes an annular relief.